To Plunder The Stars Themselves, Episode III

[Trokair]

The Lady’s outside hull was becoming a familiar stomping ground, better not get too attached. Cycling through the familiar airlock Brynjarr considered the best hiding places to choose from given the angle of approach of the inspection shuttle.  

 

There was a battle scared area towards the lower decks on the vessel, and given most mortals instance on ascribing an up and a down in space meant that it was an area likely to be far from anybodies attention.

 

Seeing Vesalius directing the squad towards one of the sensor nests Brynjarr nodded in approval, not his first preference, but certainly viable and well thought out, and technically a short distance, so less cane of mistakes or mishaps.  

 

Anchoring himself in place and powering down to minimal Brynnjar kept a careful eye on possible approaches, on the off chance that the princelings minions would send someone of to check the outside.  

 

Brynjarr will also switch to Zero Tolerance Solo mode, might as well just in case. After all what’s the point if having it if I don’t use it.

  Edited June 27, 2021 by Trokair

[Black Cohort]

Decimus settled into a position where he could just cover the approach along the hull from the nearest airlock with his heavy bolter.  He powered down everything but the mag lock on his boots and the most minimal life support required.

[Lysimachus]

Scrutiny Test: Lt. Barcha's Per: 38 Roll: 42, Fail 0DoF

 

On the bridge:

 

The inspection team make their report and Barcha sniffs loudly and unpleasantly before hawking phlegm to one side. He turns to Tragg and after a moment shrugs lopsidedly. "My team was tol' if it were clear to be harbour pilot and bring you into dock. If you'll let 'em take the helm?"

 

Tragg nods, relief plain on his face. The renegades with Barcha step forward to the controls, and the Lieutenant himself shuffles over to stand close beside Tragg as the ship begins to move. He continues to chatter casually and quietly to the Captain, though it is obviously a trial for Tragg to remain close enough to hear his words and not be overcome by the stink of his ruined mouth. At least out on the hull you are spared such disgusting company.

 

***

[Commissar Molotov]

The Traveller hunkers down against the hull of the Bounteous Lady, grasping for purchase. As his warplate cycles down and its machine-spirit slumbers quietly, his breath is heavy and leaden within his helm.

 

He regards Vesalius carefully; the Apothecary is clearly in possession of unusual skills that are worthy of note.

[A.T.]

The ship began to move, though silent in the void the great roar of the engines could be felt through the hull itself. Opportunities presented themselves - airlocks, surface vents, secondary cargo storage outside of the main hull all drifted into focus as they closed.

 

The lance that had fired upon the ship was a prime target, heat and energy dischage would mask any approach and the operation of such a weapon was not a quiet affair. Glancing at the others he wondered if one might foolishly consider leaping from the vessel and crossing unaided, speed and distance could be deceptive in the void.

[Lysimachus]

Barcha looks curiously around the bridge, then leans in and whispers conspiratorially to Tragg.

 

"His Highness tol' me if we dint find nothin' to tell you he still knows they gotta be aboard somewhere. He says he gets you was under... der-ess?... so he wont hold nothin' gainst you..." he pauses heavily "...so long as you help 'im now."

 

Tragg looks startled, then worried. He says nothing. Barcha hisses irritably and continues.

 

"You dun' owe 'em nothin'. They attacked you, right? Not us... them!"

 

His eyes glint craftily.

 

"Plus, His Highness said if you help 'im now, help us end 'em before they can cause any of us more trouble, he'll fix your ship up free of charge and send you on yer way with no hard feelings." The ugly underling leans even closer. "But if you cross him, he'll strip it down for spare parts. Not t'mention he'll string you up by yer heels and let his xeno-pets rip yer guts out and feed on 'em while yer still watchin'."

 

The bearded Captain looks away, then back, then away once more. He rubs at his injured arm, thinking silently for several moments, then lets out a strangled grunt. Without the threat of immediate violence from the Kill-Team hanging over him, his natural self-interest is unsurprisingly winning out. He finally replies in a guilty, rushed, half-whisper.

 

"Fine! Fine, damn you! Yes, they gave me no choice, you make sure Von Caeryd knows that! I don't want to get in the middle of their fight, I just want to get my ship repaired and out of this hellhole! They're hiding on the outer hull somewhere."

 

Barcha nods smugly and turns away, speaking a few words into a private vox link. After a few moments he nods eagerly, obediently.

 

"Yes, Highness!" He turns to the pilots. "Heave to!"

 

***

 

Out on the skin of the ship, you can feel it through your armoured boots as the plasma drives disengage. The vessel comes to a total stop once more. You have travelled perhaps another two thousand kilometres closer to Elysium, but you are still nearly three thousand from the asteroid surface. Before you can wonder what is happening or move to investigate, Von Caeryd's voice is suddenly broadcast on all vox channels, picked up both by the bridge and your armour.

 

"Thank you for your honesty, Captain. It is truly always the best policy. Mister Barcha, you played your part perfectly. To Talek Varn and his men, I say this... I am very disappointed." You can hear him move away from the mic, but his airy, carefree voice is still just audible. "Obliterate them."

 

In response, weapons systems across Elysium immediately begin to fire. Lance strikes hit almost instantaneously, and following behind them comes a deadly torrent of solid ordnance the Lady cannot hope to survive. Even before the first shells hit, on the bridge Tragg lets out a disconsolate moan of rage and loss. Barcha stands with his filthy mouth wide open, unable to believe that he and his fellows have been used and abandoned so easily.

 

In moments, the vessel is being hammered by the sudden storm, the hull beneath you jumping and shuddering with every impact like there is some kind of groundquake occurring in deep space. Inside the ship, alarms blare and crimson warnings flash across every console. The Lady tips drunkenly, several large hits causing the angle of her yaw and roll to suddenly change.

 

The impacts keep coming, harder and harder, the destructive rage that is evident behind them almost psychotic in its sudden fury. You can see entire sections of hull plating ripped away by massive explosions. Power fails completely, throwing the interior into darkness and causing objects not magbooted to the deck to suddenly float and bounce around in rhythm with the brutal strikes.

 

It appears that nothing can be done to save the stricken vessel. But that matters not if your mission can be saved?

 

***

[Commissar Molotov]

From his crouched position against the hull, the Traveller feels the Bounteous Lady slowing, the vibrations underfoot lessening until they stilled entirely.

 

Their ruse had failed, then. Whether Tragg had betrayed them or had simply failed to play his part with enough conviction, the Traveller knew not. Still, he inwardly cursed that their survival had depended upon such a weak man.

 

The brightness of the first weapons-fire streaked above them, moving silently through the void. It was almost beautiful.

 

As the impacts began, and the stricken vessel began to crumble beneath them, the Traveller opened a vox to Odysseus. The psyker had intimated that he had power over space and time. Now would be the time to bring those skills to bear.

 

"Odysseus, if you are able to remove us from this place, I suggest you do it now."

Edited June 28, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[A.T.]

(Semi-placeholder)

 

It was time then. The librarian stood unmoving, gazing into the oncoming storm as the ship shuddered under the fire. All had heard tales of warp travel, perhaps now questioning the madness that had led them to be pulled through the immaterium unprepared and unguarded, the sensation of ten thousand pairs of eyes and claws waiting for their momentary opportunity. The cold of the approaching void seeping impossibly though armour, the sensation of atmosphere where there could be none.

 

Suddenly the hull of Elysium seemed to rush towards them as if stretched across the void of space, and Odysseus took a single step forwards. Gravity shifted and for a moment the astartes staggered as hold upon the hull of the Lady was lost... and then as suddenly as it had started the sensation of dread faded and with it the shaking of the hull beneath them - somehow, impossibly, they had stepped onto the Elysium.

 

 

Darkness Gate(pushed)

Activation tests: 47, 74, 84

Phenomena: 54, 47, 22

Hoarfrost and gales - or much foreboding, but a successful transport

[Black Cohort]

"Let's not make a habit of doing that.  Now how do we get into this thing?"

[Lysimachus]

Odysseus' eldritch powers will be sufficient to bring the team to the surface. Feel free to describe what you see, hear or feel as you are transported through the Immaterium!

 

You are close enough to one another, both physically and in purpose, that some of what each of you 'see' may be 'visible' to your teammates… so if you want (it's entirely optional) to reveal any hints for the other players to chew on about who your character really is, where they come from, or even what their future might hold, this could be an opportunity?

 

***

[Commissar Molotov]

[sCRAPSHUNTERROR - ABORT] Edited June 30, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Beren]

Svelk's torrent of curses are held back behind his clenched jaw as he feels the hull rock beneath him and he swings out his axe-rake to anchor himself further against the hull.

 

Still locked in place, he turns towards the distant station and begins making a rough calculation as to making the jump...

 

...and then it bends. Instead of being in the distance it's looming right in front of him. His mind revolts against this aberration in reality, before he sees Odysseus calmly step across. In an instant, Svelk made his choice and followed, again swinging his axe rake to anchor himself to the new hull, feeling the void claw at his bones as he makes the transition.

 

For a moment, he's silent.

 

Then, he starts chuckling, a low, grating sound.

 

+++That was... efficient.+++

 

He turns to look back the way they came, where Bounteous Lady writhes in flames and comes apart under weapons fire.

 

+++The void doesn't tolerate fools.+++

[Lysimachus]

The sudden journey to the surface is… disconcerting, even for an Astartes. Especially for Astartes like you who can no longer rely on the ongoing regime of physical and spiritual sanctification provided by a parent Chapter. But after a moment you arrive, perhaps scarred in your hearts, but physically whole. The airless surface of the asteroid is utterly unremarkable, dark grey rock that appears a much lighter hue when compared to the blackness of space above you. The elements that form it are dense enough to provide a level of gravity, far lower than the Terran standard but more than sufficient so that you do not simply float away.

 

As you look up, you can see as the Bounteous Lady dies. Her hull has been voided in dozens of places and the impacts have sent her into a slow spin, with whole sections breaking away and careening off in random directions. Even as you watch, a final well-aimed or lucky Lance strike hits the Command deck square on, passing directly through the bridge, filling it to overflowing with pure light that bursts out, shattering every one of the large armaplas viewports. Captain Tragg's disloyalty and greed have been repaid in full.

 

Before you the geometric shapes of Elysium rise from the rocky surface. Of immediate note are the vast barrels of some of the station's orbital defences, the nearest a few hundred metres away. They are quiescent now, their target obliterated. Behind them to the left are even larger shapes, a series of gleaming domes. There are similarly vast sections in the background to the right and you can see outlines within their overall structure clearly reminiscent of an Imperial vessel. You move towards the station with long, arching strides. As you do, you can see between canyons of rock what looks like an access hatch of some sort. But it is guarded.

 

***

[Commissar Molotov]

Once the team are across the void and through the psyker's gateway, the Traveller establishes a vox communication to the others.

 

"If Von Caeryd was cunning enough to see through our deception, he is likely paranoid enough not to believe that we died aboard the ship."

 

The blood-stripe across his helm's snout gleams in the fire-light of the Bounteous Lady's destruction.

 

"Elysium will likely be on high alert."

Edited June 30, 2021 by Commissar Molotov

[Trokair]

As the princeling’s final words came over the vox and lance and macro battery fire opened up Brynjarr felt sorry for the Bounteous Lady, this was not a fitting death for a vessel, no matter how badly served by its captain over the centuries.

 

But he had no time to dwell on these thoughts, as Odysseus’s wichctraft offered the only avenue of escape for the others. Brynjarr almost considered not taking it, instead ridding the dying ship onwards, and jumping and drifting towards the target, and while his armour would survive such an extended voidwalk he knew that too few of the others would have the skill or void hardened  armour to to do likewise.

 

While the howl and stench of crazed Orks permutated the surrounding, irrespective of sealed armour, or the void beyond, Brynjarr whispered under his breaths mantras of endurance and fortitude. Now was not then, here was not there.    

 

With a step it was all over, the dying ship above them, solid rock beneath their feet. Glancing back briefly Brynjarr uttered a short prayer to Grandfather for the fallen innocent on the Bounteous Lady. Then his attention was back on the here and now.

Edited July 3, 2021 by Trokair

[Necronaut]

Vesalius nodded at the Traveller's words. +We would do well to reconnoiter before advancing too far.+

 

He paused, surveying the gleaming domes and spires of Elysium before them. He continued in his clinical manner, +If I might make two proposals: first that we capture, interrogate and incapacitate anyone we come across for information on Von Caeryd's whereabouts; second that we could use some of our remaining incendiary ordinance to create a diversion by detonating them on one or more of those hab-domes or another location, initiating an explosive decompression event and possibly drawing away or dealing with some of Elysium's defenders.+

 

He mused for a moment longer, +We might even be able to lead their guard force on a merry chase by intentionally leaving slaughtered or incapacitated guards about the surface of the asteroid as a trail of breadcrumbs to keep them occupied before we ambush them or otherwise evade them altogether. These box canyons could make for excellent slaughter holes.+

[Black Cohort]

"We don't have the numbers or ammunition for a protracted fight.  This needs to be a decapitation strike.  Most of these scum will work for any master strong enough to tame them.  If we remove Von Caeryd, the rest will bend the knee in short order."

[Necronaut]

+You misunderstand me, Decimus,+ he voxed back.+I have no interest in a protracted battle with the scum infesting this station; rather I would see us confuse and terrorize them before eliminating our quarry. Let us feed his apparent paranoia and strike at our leisure.+

[Lysimachus]

Interlude:

 

When the inspection team boards, Holger has already concealed himself in a section of the Bounteous Lady's miles of ducting. After their feeble search efforts are concluded and he can feel the rumble of the plasma drives again, he leaves his hideaway, aiming to mingle with the crew and continue with the infiltration of Elysium as planned.

 

Then the drives disengage once more… but surely it is impossible that they have arrived and docked so quickly? Immediately, without a word to any of the men around him, Holger rises and exits the hold. He moves along the wide corridors, using the mental layout of the ship that he created during the first assault.

 

The first hit makes the Lady shudder, followed immediately by the second that almost throws Holger from his feet. Lance strikes. He had been right. Solid munitions are almost certain to follow close behind. The technician moves faster. There. A row of narrow entrances with blast doors. But not chambers. Saviour pods. Already a few of the doors are shut. Unlikely to have already been fired due to whatever is happening now. Perhaps from a previous crisis and the pods have simply not been replaced? They will regret such thriftiness today, for he is certain the recruits' incursion scheme has failed. Hopefully, given the tactical data he was provided about the Kill-Team's capabilities, they are nevertheless already aboard Von Caeryd's Elysium.

 

"Hey, you!"

 

A trio of crewmen - big, heavily muscled... deckhands presumably? - arrive from the other side, blocking his access to the row of unfired pods. "Hey, I seen you come aboard!" their unofficial leader yells again even as the ship jumps and groans with further impacts. "You with those pirates! You wanted aboard so bad? Ain't no way in hell you getting off now!"

 

Holger sighs. He continues to approach, making himself as small and unthreatening as he can. 

 

"C'mon now, 'ey mates?" he offers weakly, "I ain't done no harm…"

 

The leader, tattooed and shaven-headed, reaches out with a meaty paw to throw this pathetic little interloper back from any chance of salvation. Suddenly, the entire vessel judders and tips violently to one side. Without warning, Holger darts forward, fast enough that even an Astartes might struggle to follow. He moves perfectly in sync with the yawing deck, ducking under the outstretched arm. A short, wide-bladed knife has appeared from nowhere in his hand, handle gripped in his fist with the blade extending between index and middle fingers.

 

The leader overbalances and falls forward, a vicious stab wound up under his ribs suddenly spurting blood. Holger pirouettes around the second man, slashing the blade across his throat, then uses the still-changing angle of the bulkhead to push off and leap onto the bewildered third man's back. A second precise, economical stab with the knife.

 

The fight, if it can be called such, has lasted a matter of seconds. Holger does not pause to finish off the bleeding men, instead quickly entering the saviour pod. As he does, the Lady's lighting and artificial gravity suddenly fail. As his feet lift from the deck, Holger calmly grabs at the row of empty seats, pulling himself along them to reach the control console. He presses the button that closes the blast door, straps into the pilot's chair and begins the launch sequence.

 

The saviour pod blasts out from the ship, using the failing hull as a shield as it shoots away from Elysium. With his knife and combi-tool, Holger hacks into the emergency vox beacon and sends a signal out to wherever the Dagger Thrust is waiting, ordering Captain Achard to commence pickup.

 

***

[Lysimachus]

Automated turrets, guided by servo-skulls mounted atop the gun shields, protect the approach to the wide hatchway. Beside these unblinking guardians are several squads of Von Caeryd's troops, wearing void suits with heavy rebreather packs and spheroidal glazed helmets.

 

Though the 'Prince' has shown wisdom in putting these additional units in place, their weapons are held indifferently, their focus entirely on the grand display that has just taken place far above them. They watch agog as the ruin of the Vagabond-class ship slowly spins away from the asteroid, out into space. Poorly trained? Or perhaps they are simply at ease in the 'knowledge' that no invader could possibly have reached them? Whatever the case, they are in your way, for there do not seem to be any other points of ingress nearby.

 

***

 

+++NARRATIVE TIME ENDS

 

STRUCTURED TIME BEGINS+++

 

Please roll for your Initiatives.

[Commissar Molotov]

D10:8(+AG5)=13

[Beren]

D10: 2

Initiative: 6 (D10 + AG 4)

[Necronaut]

Initiative: 1d10 2

2 + 6 (Ag bonus) = 8

 

Spending gate point to give 10 initiative roll...

18 initiative

Edited June 30, 2021 by Necronaut

[A.T.]

Odysseus

Initiative: 1d10 = 1 +5  = 6

[Lysimachus]

Pre-Round 1:

Kill-Team Cohesion: 8

Initiative Order:

[ ] Vesalius | (SQUAD) | AG6+10 (+2) = 18 | WOUNDS 20/20 | FATE 2 /4

[ ] Odysseus | (SQUAD) | AG5+10 (+2) = 17 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 3/4

[ ] Svelk | (SQUAD) | AG4+10 (+2) = 16 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 2/3

[ ] Kai | (SQUAD) | AG5+ 8 (+2) = 15 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 3/3+1

[ ] Crewmen Horde 2 | AG3+6 (+2) = 11 | MAG 30/30

[ ] Brynjarr | (SQUAD) | AG4+3 (+2) =9 | WOUNDS 23/23 | FATE 4/4

[ ] Crewmen Horde 1 | AG3+4 (+2) = 9 | MAG 30/30

[ ] Decimus | (SQUAD) | AG3+2 (+2) = 7 | WOUNDS 22/22 | FATE 3/3

[ ] Heavy Bolter (Left) | AG0+6 = 6 | WOUNDS 20/20

[ ] Heavy Bolter (Right) | AG0+3 = 3 | WOUNDS 20/20

Asteroid Surface:

This battle uses the Low-G World rules. (CRB.pg210)

The rocky outcrops extend well above head height, approx 15m. LoS cannot be drawn through them.

You will begin with a Surprise Round due to the defenders' distraction. If you end that Round with no team members in LoS of any of the defenders (Orbital defence weapons don't count) and not having fired any weapons or done anything similarly obvious(!) you will receive another Surprise Round. And so on.

However, the more Rounds you spend getting into position before attacking, the less distracted your opponents will be by the destruction of Tragg's ship and the more chance they will spot you. At the end of each Surprise Round they may make a Per Test to discover you (with a cumulative +10 bonus added each subsequent Round). If they do, normal combat will start immediately and you will lose any more Surprise Rounds.

If you can wipe out all the guards before they can raise an alarm (i.e. before they get an opportunity to take a Turn) it will obviously aid you in gaining access to Elysium's interior unnoticed.

All of that said, you might want to weigh the value of maintaining that element of surprise for later... versus Captain Achard's final piece of advice when he left you… feel free to strategize OOC before we start rolling dice!

Opponents:

Elysium Crewmen (Horde) 1 + 2

WS35, BS35, Str35, T35, Ag30, Int20, Per30, Wp35, Fel20

Move 3/6/9/18 | Armour 5 | Magnitude 30

Weapons:

Lasgun:

Range 100m; S/3/-; 1d10 + 3 E; Pen 0; Reliable

Automated Heavy Bolter Turret

WS0 (Close combat attacks against Turret hit automatically), BS15, T40, Ag0 (No bonus from low-G, cannot Dodge!) | Armour 8 | Machine (4) | Wounds 20

Weapons:

Twin-linked Heavy Bolter:

Range 150m; -/-/6; 1d10 + 12 X; Pen 5; Tearing, Twin-linked

NB. The servo skulls are simple systems, they are not linked to the internal network and cannot raise the alarm to any defenders within the station, but obviously if they spot you and start firing, this will alert the Crewmen who can!

Orbital Defence Weapon

These are far too vast to be used for anti-personnel work (even against Space Marines!) but can be used as cover and targeted by your attacks. They have 40 Armour Points - reducing this to 0 represents doing a level of damage that renders them inoperable/unfireable rather than destroying them entirely, as that would be a feat beyond most infantry.